But then there’s Elvis. A lot of American greats literally ended. Really early. Like Hendrix, Janis, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain. And one of my favorites, Layne Staley of Alice In Chains. And let’s not forget great American folk music and country that influenced rock. Music is fluid. But there is nothing like the early British bands and British blues. Rock started with Black church gospel that then became blues and then the beginning of rock and the Brits took that and made the best music ever. And many belonged to more than one great band. Steve Marriott was in Faces and then Humble Pie. Not to mention Jeff Beck, Clapton, the list goes on and on. And also let’s not forget the first two British bands that changed the world.
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OnanTheBarbarian (12126)
2 years ago
Sure, lots of great American bands. But lets not forget Neil Young is Canadian!
I will say one thing. Though folk and country are great genres in their own right, I think they have influenced American rock often to its detriment. I think that's why the British have a larger number of epic bands for their smaller population. I mean the UK has 70 million people and the U.S. has 330 million people, U.S. almost 5 to 1. Yet I dare say over half the great rock bands are British.
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letess (1561)
2 years ago
Not a Dylan fan then? Or Johnny Cash? I was never a Grateful Dead fan - maybe you mean this one? I take it this is what you mean by those genres influencing American rock to its detriment. Today I was out to see World Cup and the music was really good where I was. I had forgotten how good Bobby Womack’s California Dreamin’ was - and that’s one of the greatest soul artists singing a song by John Phillips of the Mamas & Papas.
I do agree with you about British bands. I think there were time periods where American and British were both great, and that was a long time ago. Music always marches on, but there was a golden age. Maybe a couple of them.
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OnanTheBarbarian (12126)
2 years ago
Actually no, not a Dylan fan. Hate his whiny nasally voice. Can't stand Grateful Dead. I have issues with both acts because I have an ex who loved them and I was forced to listen to them. Lol. Johnny Cash and Mamas & Papas I have much respect.
But I really wasn't bashing country and folk. I just think they are such strong influences in American music, that they adulterated rock. Whereas in England without country and folk, the rock was purer. Also, American top 40 tends to push pop, not rock.
Elvis in the 50's was when American rock was dominant. But then in the 60's there was the Beatles and the Stones and the British invasion. Then in the 70's there was the British punk invasion.
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letess (1561)
2 years ago
Dylan was/is big here?? US. His writing is good. I love All Along the Watchtower by Hendrix not Dylan. Hated the Dead except for Me and My Uncle - written by John Phillips. I too had an ex that was a dead head and it was extreme torture.
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OnanTheBarbarian (12126)
2 years ago
Haha. My ex was a deadhead too. He revered Bob Dylan which was a little bizarre because he was black. And he hated soul and hip hop.
Yeah, I'd say Bob Dylan was a megastar here.
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letess (1561)
2 years ago
That’s funny. I have always loved music like Esther Phillips. Gil Scott heron. And Nina Simone but no one else I knew did. There was also reggae moments going to the islands. I did really like the British bands and I know quite a bit about them and all American. But just so so with hip hop. It amazes me how a lot countries have their hip hop and watching French or Icelandic is kind of funny too. This column is getting really narrow.
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OnanTheBarbarian (12126)
2 years ago
Interesting. My black ex told me about Nina Simone. "Mississippi Goddamn!" That really cracked him up. But I had never listened to her. Years after we split, I heard her and love her!
I hate to keep emphasizing his race. But it's just that my ex hated popular black music so intensely. But he exposed me to rock music inside and out and taught me all about classic rock.
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letess (1561)
2 years ago
For a black guy to like The Dead is about one in a million. That’s really rare. I wonder who his favorites are. I discovered Nina early on. I don’t know how. But I think it was her version of I put a spell on you. Very NOLA. It’s funny. There are different songs you associate the person you are with at the time. when you hear a song, it brings it all back. I have that with a few songs but one in particular. And it’s not a popular one so when I do hear it, I stop everything.
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R_Kane (15828)
a year ago
To duplicate the vocal stylings of Bobby Zimmerman, I mean, DYLAN—yeah, that’s it: Dylan, ‘cause he never changed his Jewish name or anything—insert an alley cat tail first into an active Cuisinart.
“The poet of his generation”!!?? No. That would be Jim Morrison. Dylan was puke.
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